Advantage Plan®

Ballast and Bulb Replacement

Your commercial lighting can account for close to 35 percent of your business's energy use. Are you using the right lighting solution and light bulb combination to get the most bang for your buck? There are a multitude of lighting options available, but how do you know which is right for your business?

What is the difference between commercial and residential light fixtures?

Commercial lighting is specially designed for the illumination of commercial premises in order to accommodate various business activities, from manufacturing to sales. By utilizing different colors, designs, and intensities, commercial lighting options offer custom solutions for various applications.

Commercial ballasts, for instance, are used with fluorescent lights to limit current to fluorescent bulbs and prevent them from increasing uncontrollably, overheating and burning out. A ballast is matched specifically to the light bulb it operates. Compared to residential fluorescents, these commercial fluorescents produce stronger magnetic interference, as well as more heat, making proper installation important in protecting against fire hazards and interference with electronics.

What light bulb type is best for my business?

Incandescent: Older technology makes incandescent bulbs less efficient than other choices and best utilized for task lighting requiring high levels of brightness. Beginning in 2012, the Department of Energy requires these bulbs to produce the same amount of light using less wattage. There are many types including: general service/standard, reflectorized, and xenon.

Halogen: Twice as efficient as an incandescent, they produce a very bright white light and are commonly used in outdoor applications such as security and stadium lighting.

Fluorescent : The most commonly used commercial lighting, fluorescents and compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), use 1/5 to 1/3 as much electricity as an incandescent. They also last 10 times longer and have comparable lumen ratings (the rating of the amount of light a light source produces). A CFL can be used in place of an incandescent in standard light sockets for energy savings. All fluorescents contain mercury, and should be disposed of properly.

HID/Metal halide: High-intensity discharge bulbs have a long life, are extremely efficient, and produce large quantities of very bright light. However with the exception of metal halides, they do not produce pleasing light colors. They are commonly used in warehouses and industrial applications.

LED: Light emitting diodes used in LED lighting are typically more efficient and longer lasting than any other type of light bulb, using 75 percent less energy than an incandescent and lasting 35 to 50 times longer.

There Are Many Reasons You May Need New Lights:

Lights are dim or flicker

Lights don't turn on or off when they should

Frequent light bulb burnout

Cracked or burnt out lights

Light bulb explosions

Lighting color seems off

Lights do not achieve the desired level of illumination

A preference for softer, brighter, or cooler light

Upgrading to longer life bulbs for convenience and savings

The excessive energy consumption of older technology bulbs.

The Importance of Energy Efficiency

Since performance depends on the type of light bulb used, choose the most efficient light bulb that meets your business's needs. Upgrading your business's lighting with today's technology can cut lighting energy use in half. Keep in mind fixture selection and proper installation are also important in gaining efficient and effective use of any light bulb, however, and the results can be seen in improved lighting. With good design and proper installation, lighting improvements typically pay for themselves in a few years. Mr. Electric® caters to many types of lighting:

Incandescent

Halogen

Flood Lights

Fluorescent

Compact Fluorescent

Indoor/Outdoor

Projector Bulbs

Neon Lights

Mercury

Metal Halide

Sodium Lamps

Motion Sensors

Dimmers/Timers

Security Lighting

Landscape Lighting

Holiday Lighting

Bathroom Lighting

Kitchen Lighting

Custom Lighting

Track and Accent

Recessed Lighting

Contact Mr. Electric today for help choosing the right light bulb or lighting solution for your business. We offer installation, repair, upgrades, and replacement services to suit your needs.

This information is not intended as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, a franchise. It is for information purposes only. Currently, the following states regulate the offer and sale of franchises: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. If you are a resident of or want to locate a franchise in one of these states, we will not offer you a franchise unless and until we have complied with applicable pre-sale registration and disclosure requirements in your state.